This team is built to RUN

[Jimz31]

I firmly believe that this team is now a team that is clearly a team that is built to be a dominant running team.

JG needs to turn the tide of being a predominant passing team in the first half of games and rushing the ball a bit more.

We can go back to the Giants game where we were very dominant against what was supposed to be one of the best D-lines in the game. They couldn't stop the run.

On those series in that game where we scored, we mixed in the pass instead of mixing in the run.

This team is reminiscent of the Cowwboys of the early 90's, but instead of one RB (Emmitt), we now have a three headed monster, which IMO may be more effective than having a single back that is just one speed all the time. If we can become a run-oriented offense, we can break team records in rushing yards and maybe an NFL record in that category.

Ever since Romo has been the starting QB, we have relied HEAVILY on the pass and he has been effective. That is why I think that this CAN be a dangerous offense. If we can establish that we have a killer run offense, teams know that they can't just say "We'll stop the run and see if Romo can beat us..." Over the first 40 starts of his career, he's the highest rated QB that there has been....if they rely on that, he CAN pick them apart...provided our WR's can get open...if not, we can always pass it to the back coming out of the backfield.

This line has been dominant over the past three games....I believe that they can keep it up for the duration of the year if they stay healthy.

Another benefit of an effective running game is what? Time Of Possession!

Time of Possession, IMO, is one of the most important parts of the game....first of all it keeps our defense off of the field and when they are on the field, they won't be as worn out....it willbe the opposing defense that is getting worn out....especially late in the game.

I can see us really racking up the yards late in the thrid and the entire 4th quarter.

This whole scenario is a big change for me....in previous years, I was wanting Romo to get his 300+ yards and 3+ TD's a game. But, I think that it is becoming more obvious that this team is built for running. Our o-line hasn't been as effective in protecting Romo on passing downs...either that or he is having to hold onto the ball too long because the WR's aren't getting open as quickly as they should be. Granted, we didn't give up a sack until this last game, but the defenses have been getting pretty close to him a pressuring him more than I like.

Anyways, this team is built for the running game and I look forward to seeing this team run it down teams throats...smash-mouth football. Time Of Possession football. Winning football!

 

[The30YardSlant]

 

[quaigs]

The passing game is what sets up the run. Teams can't risk bringing safeties up to stop the run beacause they know Romo and company can rake up yards through the air in a hurry. Plus Witten and Bennett's pass catching ability keep LB's honest.

 

[btcutter]

If we had all three running back healthy and we were running more power run plays instead of lead draws, I would tend to agree with you.

I still think Garrett has doubts or just not quite committed to becoming a RUNINNING team. True running team like the Boys of the 90's will just line up with a running formation and pound your face to the turf until you cried "uncle". You can't stop me. I don't know if Garretts has that attitude which is a must in order for the O to pick up that attitude as well.

Garrett is more like Payton in NO. He wants to pass and just need a little reason to back it up.

 

[reddyuta]

if all three are healthy in december we will break our december jinx this year.

 

[Jimz31]

The passing game is what sets up the run. Teams can't risk bringing safeties up to stop the run beacause they know Romo and company can rake up yards through the air in a hurry. Plus Witten and Bennett's pass catching ability keep LB's honest.

On the other hand, the running game sets up the pass.

This is the best of both worlds here....like I said in my post, teams KNOW that Romo can beat them through the air....he's done it since he's been a starter. It's just like you said, when they bring up 8-9 in the box, THEN Romo can really reat them apart.

 

[Jimz31]

If we had all three running back healthy and we were running more power run plays instead of lead draws, I would tend to agree with you.

I still think Garrett has doubts or just not quite committed to becoming a RUNINNING team. True running team like the Boys of the 90's will just line up with a running formation and pound your face to the turf until you cried "uncle". You can't stop me. I don't know if Garretts has that attitude which is a must in order for the O to pick up that attitude as well.

Garrett is more like Payton in NO. He wants to pass and just need a little reason to back it up.

Yep...there's also that story of Newton telling the d-line where we were going with the ball and dared them to stop it...he wasn't lying about where they were going....the line was just THAT dominant.

I think this line can be just as dominant....

 

[Doomsday101]

The passing game is what sets up the run. Teams can't risk bringing safeties up to stop the run beacause they know Romo and company can rake up yards through the air in a hurry. Plus Witten and Bennett's pass catching ability keep LB's honest.

I think it is critical to have both and which one sets up the other I think largely depends on the team you are facing. There are some great run stopping teams out there that you better be able to show the ability to pass to get your running game going but by the same token you have some defense that a great vs the pass

 

[quaigs]

On the other hand, the running game sets up the pass.

This is the best of both worlds here....like I said in my post, teams KNOW that Romo can beat them through the air....he's done it since he's been a starter. It's just like you said, when they bring up 8-9 in the box, THEN Romo can really reat them apart.

Exactley, but that is why I think the offense needs to be balanced, and I think Garrett is doing a great job of it this year. So I wouldn't go as far as saying they should be a run first team. I think they should just react to what the deffense is giving them, since they really don't have a weakness on offense.

But what ever they do they still have to mix it up so they don't become predictable.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Some teams do a great job of plugging up the middle but are susceptible at the edges while others contain the edges but leave holes up the middle. When healthy, we have the option to attack the defenses weakness. If they load up to take away the outside and inside runs, we have the personnel to take advantage of one on one situations through the air.

 

[JonJon]

I firmly believe that this team is now a team that is clearly a team that is built to be a dominant running team.

JG needs to turn the tide of being a predominant passing team in the first half of games and rushing the ball a bit more.

We can go back to the Giants game where we were very dominant against what was supposed to be one of the best D-lines in the game. They couldn't stop the run.

On those series in that game where we scored, we mixed in the pass instead of mixing in the run.

This team is reminiscent of the Cowwboys of the early 90's, but instead of one RB (Emmitt), we now have a three headed monster, which IMO may be more effective than having a single back that is just one speed all the time. If we can become a run-oriented offense, we can break team records in rushing yards and maybe an NFL record in that category.

Ever since Romo has been the starting QB, we have relied HEAVILY on the pass and he has been effective. That is why I think that this CAN be a dangerous offense. If we can establish that we have a killer run offense, teams know that they can't just say "We'll stop the run and see if Romo can beat us..." Over the first 40 starts of his career, he's the highest rated QB that there has been....if they rely on that, he CAN pick them apart...provided our WR's can get open...if not, we can always pass it to the back coming out of the backfield.

This line has been dominant over the past three games....I believe that they can keep it up for the duration of the year if they stay healthy.

Another benefit of an effective running game is what? Time Of Possession!

Time of Possession, IMO, is one of the most important parts of the game....first of all it keeps our defense off of the field and when they are on the field, they won't be as worn out....it willbe the opposing defense that is getting worn out....especially late in the game.

I can see us really racking up the yards late in the thrid and the entire 4th quarter.

This whole scenario is a big change for me....in previous years, I was wanting Romo to get his 300+ yards and 3+ TD's a game. But, I think that it is becoming more obvious that this team is built for running. Our o-line hasn't been as effective in protecting Romo on passing downs...either that or he is having to hold onto the ball too long because the WR's aren't getting open as quickly as they should be. Granted, we didn't give up a sack until this last game, but the defenses have been getting pretty close to him a pressuring him more than I like.

Anyways, this team is built for the running game and I look forward to seeing this team run it down teams throats...smash-mouth football. Time Of Possession football. Winning football!

Very good post and I agree 100%. Running is this teams strong point and it should be the focal point of our offensive gameplan. I believe our WR's are best utilized when they have one on one opportunities, which is setup by having a dominant running game.

One thing that I noticed about Romo is that he worked very hard on play action passes this off-season. There is a world of difference in his fakes from last year to this year. I used to think Eli was the best faker in the NFC, but I think Romo has gotten better. The play-action, especially with or TE's, can be very effective if we focus truly on making this a run-first team.

 

[Jimz31]

Exactley, but that is why I think the offense needs to be balanced, and I think Garrett is doing a great job of it this year. So I wouldn't go as far as saying they should be a run first team. I think they should just react to what the deffense is giving them, since they really don't have a weakness on offense.

But what ever they do they still have to mix it up so they don't become predictable.

I like to dictate games...I hate it when we allow the other teams to dictate what we are going to do....that's why I loved the Jimmy Johnson teams...he didn't allow the opponents to dictate to us...he dictated the game the way it was going to be run....and the early 90's teams dared the opponents to do anything about it.

 

[Doomsday101]

Very good post and I agree 100%. Running is this teams strong point and it should be the focal point of our offensive gameplan. I believe our WR's are best utilized when they have one on one opportunities, which is setup by having a dominant running game.

One thing that I noticed about Romo is that he worked very hard on play action passes this off-season. There is a world of difference in his fakes from last year to this year. I used to think Eli was the best faker in the NFC, but I think Romo has gotten better. The play-action, especially with or TE's, can be very effective if we focus truly on making this a run-first team.

I agree but I don't think it helps Dallas to become predictable. You have to throw on 1st downs now and then. I don't think it serves us well to be a team who constantly runs on 1st and 2nd and forced to throw on 3rd we must mix things up. Dallas is avg 194 yards rushing a game I think teams will be looking at that as a key in stopping Dallas but if you can continue mixing it up it helps to keep that defense off balance

 

[Jimz31]

I agree but I don't think it helps Dallas to become predictable. You have to throw on 1st downs now and then. I don't think it serves us well to be a team who constantly runs on 1st and 2nd and forced to throw on 3rd we must mix things up. Dallas is avg 194 yards rushing a game I think teams will be looking at that as a key in stopping Dallas but if you can continue mixing it up it helps to keep that defense off balance

Agreed.

I don't mind it if we pass on first down...you've GOTTA do that sometimes.

I just think that we are now to the point where we can afford to run the ball more than pass overall....which I wonder if we've ever done that since Romo became the starter. MIX in the pass....don't DOMINATE with the pass and sprinkle in the run....especially when we are BUILT to run.

 

[btcutter]

Yep...there's also that story of Newton telling the d-line where we were going with the ball and dared them to stop it...he wasn't lying about where they were going....the line was just THAT dominant.

I think this line can be just as dominant....

It's the attitude of the head coach. You perpetuate that to your player. That's sense of determination and superiority that other teams can sense and afraid.

Don't think Wade has that.

 

[LarryCanadian]

Strange, but for YEARS Dallas has had one of the BIGGEST, if not the BIGGEST offensive lines, and were known not to be terribly mobile and actually known to struggle against smaller/speed rusher types (both Columbo and Flo have troubles at time with the speed rushers, and BIGG can get off balance against quick inside moves. Against big guys, these guys are usually consistently tremendous. Gurdode against Hayneworth etc.

SO, when we play against quicker, smaller defenses, I don't understand why we don't just POUND, pound, maul, grind these guys down. 2nd half of the game those teams should be scared to death of us.

We also now have a 2nd tight end that is a physical freek, so this 2 TE set is helping a lot too (one area where the slow start for Bennett is a bit underappreciated is the run game has benefitted from 2 very good TE's in there blocking and creating coverage mismatches).

With the type of oline we have, running a lot makes a ton of sense. They haven't run blocked as well the previous 2-3 seasons though, and I feel there has been a huge improvement there. Kudos to Houck and oline for working on this and so far so good.

LarryCanadian

 

[Jimz31]

It's the attitude of the head coach. You perpetuate that to your player. That's sense of determination and superiority that other teams can sense and afraid.

Don't think Wade has that.

No, he doesn't. He's not feared by opponents and I don't think one player fears him either.

Just one of those reasons why I don't see him being here after this year....unless he wins it all.

 

[wileedog]

Agreed.

I don't mind it if we pass on first down...you've GOTTA do that sometimes.

I just think that we are now to the point where we can afford to run the ball more than pass overall....which I wonder if we've ever done that since Romo became the starter. MIX in the pass....don't DOMINATE with the pass and sprinkle in the run....especially when we are BUILT to run.

I don't think we could have if we wanted to.

First off, Romo had Julius in the RB mix his first two years. I think all 3 of our backs are head and shoulders above what he brought.

2nd of all, there is a reason a certain WR is running around in Buffalo - could you imagine the stink he would be making if he spent the majority of the game doing what Roy Williams is doing now - blocking downfield?

 

[Doomsday101]

Agreed.

I don't mind it if we pass on first down...you've GOTTA do that sometimes.

I just think that we are now to the point where we can afford to run the ball more than pass overall....which I wonder if we've ever done that since Romo became the starter. MIX in the pass....don't DOMINATE with the pass and sprinkle in the run....especially when we are BUILT to run.

I think it depends even the 90's Cowboys if they came into a game where teams were going to stack up on Smith we made them pay with the passing game. I love the run and I like seeing this team be able to run with great efficiency but I also know that a team must be able to show good balance in their attack. Right now I like what I'm seeing for the most part. Yes we had a poor outing by Romo and last week to many penalties but this team is being able to move the ball pretty much at will right now using the run and the pass. I think as this team cleans up a few things this offense will produce a lot of points

 

[wileedog]

With the type of oline we have, running a lot makes a ton of sense. They haven't run blocked as well the previous 2-3 seasons though, and I feel there has been a huge improvement there. Kudos to Houck and oline for working on this and so far so good.

LarryCanadian

I'd also point out Deon Anderson has been phenomenal this season so far.

Stay healthy Cricket!